"The #1 problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines." -Harry Wong
Procedures...
inform students about what is expected of them in order for the classroom to function effectively
allow many different activities to take place efficiently- often at the same time- with minimum wasted time and confusion
incease on task time and reduce disruptions
reduce discipline problems
Procedures answer:
1. What do I do when the bell rings?
2. What do I do about sharpening pencils?
3. What do I do if there is an emergency alert?
4. What if I finish my work early?
5. What if I have a question?
6. What if I need to use the restroom?
7. What do I do if I need help?
8. What if I need supplies?
9. What happens if I get sick?
Morning Work Procedures:
Morning work is used to get students ready for the day, as attendance and lunch count are taken, as well as, agendas and homework are checked. Students are to turn in their work into the completed work basket. If they finish early, the look to the "What to do when you finish your mornign work chart!" The chart reads:
-Monday: Book boxes
-Tuesday: Puzzles
-Wednesday: Book boxes
-Thursday: Puzzles
-Friday: Dry erase boards
(Idea taken from Mrs. Woody's 1st grade classroom).
Classroom Helpers:
Helpers are used in the classroom to take care of housekeeping things. Students love this; it gives them responsibility and amkes them feel important. Different helpers are chosen each week. This can be incorporated into a classroom theme.
For example, in a classroom with a space theme, the bulletin board can be titled "Far Out Helpers"
Helpers include:
-Line leader
-Door holder
-Messengers (2)
-Caboose
-Classroom helpers (2):
- sharpen pencils
- clean desks
- pick up trash off floor
(Idea taken from Mrs. Woody's 1st grade classroom).
Procedures
Beginning the class:
How students are to enter the room: In the mornings, students are to hang up bookbags, get their binders out, have their agendas out ready to be checked, sit quietly at their desks and begin morning work.
What students are to do with personal belongings: Students need to keep personal belongings in their booksbags.
Immediately engaging students in meaningful activities: We will go straight to the carpet first thing for calendar time. We will start the day by doing some stretches to a song to get the students energized and excited about learning.
How teacher will get students’ attention: I’ll say, “ALLIGATOR ALLIGATOR!” in a loud voice. My students will then reply, “CHOMP CHOMP” as they slap their hands like an alligator mouth.
What a student is to do when tardy: Join us in whatever activity we are doing, and take a note to the office to count them tardy when we come to a stopping point.
Managing the classroom:
When and how students may leave their seats: Students must raise their hands to ask to leave their seats, they can only leave their seats to sharpen pencils, use the restroom, get something needed out of their bookbag, or get a tissue.
What students need to do in order to leave the room: Students must ask me for permission and have a valid reason (ex. Being sick and going to the nurse).
How students will get help from the teacher: Students will raise their hands, and I will come help them as soon as I get a chance.
How students will obtain permission to talk: Students will either be on “no talk” where they can’t speak at all or they will be on “Whisper” where they can whisper quietly. This will vary depending on the activity. If the student needs to talk to me or ask a question, they can simply raise their hand.
How students will get instructional materials: I will have classroom helpers and whoever the helper is for passing out materials will distribute them to the students.
How pencils will be sharpened: The pencil sharpener helper will sharpen them first thing in the morning.
How students will move into cooperative groups: I’ll play a song segment in between group transitions. (It will always be the same song so they will know that is their signal to switch groups).
What noise level will be acceptable for different types of class work: Unless it is a type of assessment or test, whispering will be acceptable. However, talking above a whisper will result in a penalty.
Paper Work:
How students will turn in work: I will have an area with a tray labeled with the different subjects on them. For example, there will be a writing section where they will turn in all writing assignments.
How students will turn in make-up work after an absence: Students will turn it into the tray labeled “Make-Up Work”.
How students will distribute handouts: The classroom helper designated to pass out handouts will do this.
How will students make up quizzes and tests: Students will make this up first thing in the morning during morning work and will be at a desk in the hall.
How late assignments will be graded: I’ll grade all late assignments myself & if it’s excused, there will be no penalty. However, if a study doesn’t do their work because of laziness, they will have to pull a card.
Dismissal from class or school:
How students will be dismissed for recess, lunch, specials, end of school: I will tell my students to push in their chairs and stand quietly beside their desk. I will call each table to line up by whichever group is being the quietest. I’ll walk with my class to recess, lunch, and specials. My parent pick up kids will go to the parent pick up are on their own. I’ll line my bus riders up in bus order and go with them to make sure they get on the correct bus.
Determining when dismissal can take place: This will occur whenever dismissal is announced over the intercom. I will ask students to push in their chairs and stand beside their desk quietly. I will call each table by whichever group is being the quietest. Once the students are all lined up, I will dismiss them.
Responding to emergency drills: I’ll place my desk near the door in case of school lock down emergencies. In fire emergencies, I’ll help my kids exit the school safely, double-checking the bathroom for any students left behind. I will then call roll to make sure everyone is present. For tornado drills, I’ll escort my kids to the proper area and call roll.
Students staying in class after school: I will line them up by tables. I will line the quietest table up first, and so on. These students will be dismissed from my class when “After School” is announced. Most schools have “After School” kids go to the lunchroom first thing for snack.
Course work:
Informing students of assignment due dates: I will let students know a few weeks in advance for big projects, and I will make sure that they write the due date in their agenda and have their parents sign off that they’ve seen it. Smaller tasks like homework will be assigned the day before it’s due, and students will also have to write this in their agenda and have parents sign off that they have seen it.
Informing students about how work will be evaluated: If it’s a project, there will be a rubric. But, for tests and writings students will be evaluated on effort and correctness.
"The #1 problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines." -Harry Wong
Procedures...
inform students about what is expected of them in order for the classroom to function effectively
allow many different activities to take place efficiently- often at the same time- with minimum wasted time and confusion
incease on task time and reduce disruptions
reduce discipline problems
Procedures answer:
1. What do I do when the bell rings?
2. What do I do about sharpening pencils?
3. What do I do if there is an emergency alert?
4. What if I finish my work early?
5. What if I have a question?
6. What if I need to use the restroom?
7. What do I do if I need help?
8. What if I need supplies?
9. What happens if I get sick?
Morning Work Procedures:
Morning work is used to get students ready for the day, as attendance and lunch count are taken, as well as, agendas and homework are checked. Students are to turn in their work into the completed work basket. If they finish early, the look to the "What to do when you finish your mornign work chart!" The chart reads:
-Monday: Book boxes
-Tuesday: Puzzles
-Wednesday: Book boxes
-Thursday: Puzzles
-Friday: Dry erase boards
(Idea taken from Mrs. Woody's 1st grade classroom).
Classroom Helpers:
Helpers are used in the classroom to take care of housekeeping things. Students love this; it gives them responsibility and amkes them feel important. Different helpers are chosen each week. This can be incorporated into a classroom theme.
For example, in a classroom with a space theme, the bulletin board can be titled "Far Out Helpers"
Helpers include:
-Line leader
-Door holder
-Messengers (2)
-Caboose
-Classroom helpers (2):
- sharpen pencils
- clean desks
- pick up trash off floor
(Idea taken from Mrs. Woody's 1st grade classroom).
ProceduresBeginning the class:
How students are to enter the room: In the mornings, students are to hang up bookbags, get their binders out, have their agendas out ready to be checked, sit quietly at their desks and begin morning work.
What students are to do with personal belongings: Students need to keep personal belongings in their booksbags.
Immediately engaging students in meaningful activities: We will go straight to the carpet first thing for calendar time. We will start the day by doing some stretches to a song to get the students energized and excited about learning.
How teacher will get students’ attention: I’ll say, “ALLIGATOR ALLIGATOR!” in a loud voice. My students will then reply, “CHOMP CHOMP” as they slap their hands like an alligator mouth.
What a student is to do when tardy: Join us in whatever activity we are doing, and take a note to the office to count them tardy when we come to a stopping point.
Managing the classroom:
When and how students may leave their seats: Students must raise their hands to ask to leave their seats, they can only leave their seats to sharpen pencils, use the restroom, get something needed out of their bookbag, or get a tissue.
What students need to do in order to leave the room: Students must ask me for permission and have a valid reason (ex. Being sick and going to the nurse).
How students will get help from the teacher: Students will raise their hands, and I will come help them as soon as I get a chance.
How students will obtain permission to talk: Students will either be on “no talk” where they can’t speak at all or they will be on “Whisper” where they can whisper quietly. This will vary depending on the activity. If the student needs to talk to me or ask a question, they can simply raise their hand.
How students will get instructional materials: I will have classroom helpers and whoever the helper is for passing out materials will distribute them to the students.
How pencils will be sharpened: The pencil sharpener helper will sharpen them first thing in the morning.
How students will move into cooperative groups: I’ll play a song segment in between group transitions. (It will always be the same song so they will know that is their signal to switch groups).
What noise level will be acceptable for different types of class work: Unless it is a type of assessment or test, whispering will be acceptable. However, talking above a whisper will result in a penalty.
Paper Work:
How students will turn in work: I will have an area with a tray labeled with the different subjects on them. For example, there will be a writing section where they will turn in all writing assignments.
How students will turn in make-up work after an absence: Students will turn it into the tray labeled “Make-Up Work”.
How students will distribute handouts: The classroom helper designated to pass out handouts will do this.
How will students make up quizzes and tests: Students will make this up first thing in the morning during morning work and will be at a desk in the hall.
How late assignments will be graded: I’ll grade all late assignments myself & if it’s excused, there will be no penalty. However, if a study doesn’t do their work because of laziness, they will have to pull a card.
Dismissal from class or school:
How students will be dismissed for recess, lunch, specials, end of school: I will tell my students to push in their chairs and stand quietly beside their desk. I will call each table to line up by whichever group is being the quietest. I’ll walk with my class to recess, lunch, and specials. My parent pick up kids will go to the parent pick up are on their own. I’ll line my bus riders up in bus order and go with them to make sure they get on the correct bus.
Determining when dismissal can take place: This will occur whenever dismissal is announced over the intercom. I will ask students to push in their chairs and stand beside their desk quietly. I will call each table by whichever group is being the quietest. Once the students are all lined up, I will dismiss them.
Responding to emergency drills: I’ll place my desk near the door in case of school lock down emergencies. In fire emergencies, I’ll help my kids exit the school safely, double-checking the bathroom for any students left behind. I will then call roll to make sure everyone is present. For tornado drills, I’ll escort my kids to the proper area and call roll.
Students staying in class after school: I will line them up by tables. I will line the quietest table up first, and so on. These students will be dismissed from my class when “After School” is announced. Most schools have “After School” kids go to the lunchroom first thing for snack.
Course work:
Informing students of assignment due dates: I will let students know a few weeks in advance for big projects, and I will make sure that they write the due date in their agenda and have their parents sign off that they’ve seen it. Smaller tasks like homework will be assigned the day before it’s due, and students will also have to write this in their agenda and have parents sign off that they have seen it.
Informing students about how work will be evaluated: If it’s a project, there will be a rubric. But, for tests and writings students will be evaluated on effort and correctness.